Stay Safe in the Sun with These Tips

Whether
you love riding bikes, golfing like these UL-sponsored LPGA pros, or other outdoor sports,
you’ll want to lather on the sunscreen to help prevent sunburn, early skin aging
and skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, according
to the American Cancer Society, affecting more
Americans than all other cancers combined. An estimated one in five Americans will develop skin
cancer by age 70.

Protect yourself by wearing sunscreen every day. According to
the Skin Cancer Foundation, this can halve
your risk for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

One chemical to avoid in sunscreens isoxybenzone,
according to UL’s
GoodGuide® app, which rates more than 75,000 consumer
products based on safety and health. Oxybenzone has been linked to contact/photocontact
sensitivity and hormone disruption. GoodGuide’s
scientists also recommend lotion sunscreens instead of spray-on products, as
the latter can be dangerous if inhaled.

To help
you get started, you can download the
GoodGuide app and browse sunscreen options. Or, simply check out GoodGuide’s
top-rated sunscreens:

Applying SunscreenYou’ll want to apply sunscreen every
two hours when outdoors, even on cloudy days (when up to 80 percent of the
sun’s harmful UV rays still can penetrate your skin), and after swimming or
sweating, advises the AAD. Apply sunscreen generously – enough
to cover all exposed skin, meaning about 1 ounce (enough to fill a
shot glass) for an adult. Include the tops of your feet, your neck, your ears
and the top of your head. Use a lip balm or lipstick that contains sunscreen
with an SPF of 30 or higher on your lips.

Protect children too. A few
blistering sunburns in childhood can double a person’s lifetime chances of
developing serious forms of skin cancer, according to the AAD.

Using sunscreen on infants
is controversial, with some experts, like the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, against
it because infants may be more
affected by the sunscreen’s chemicals. For infants under 6 months, experts
agree that the first line of defense is to keep them out of direct sunlight
altogether – by using sunshades/umbrellas, lightweight clothing that covers the
arms and legs, bonnets, sunglasses, etc. The American
Academy of Pediatrics’ additional recommendation
is: If adequate clothing and shade are not
available, apply a minimal amount of sunscreen on infants under 6 months to
small areas, such as the face and the back of the hands.

Other Sun Safety TipsGet into the habit of checking the UV Index, advises the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). This measures UV exposure on a scale of 0-11, with 11
being the most exposure. When the UV Index is at 3 or above, in addition to wearing sunscreen, the EPA says:

Limit exposure during 10 a.m. to 2
p.m. when UV exposure is highest.

Seek shade.

Wear clothing made from tightly woven
fabrics that can help block some of the UV rays. Long-sleeved shirts and pants
are recommended.